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TO: All Media CONTACTS: Dan Foley, Attorney: 526-9500
RE: Equal Rights Carl Varady, ACLU: 545-1722
DATE: June 1, 1993 GLCC Office: 951-7000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
HAWAII EQUAL RIGHTS PROPONENTS URGE 'MAINLAND' SUPPORT
Riding the crest of the equal rights wave, organizers for the
Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project (HERMP) call for the
participation of the national lesbian, gay, and bisexual community.
With the Hawaii Supreme Court's decision declaring the state ban
against same-sex marriage unconstitutional unless the state can
prove a compelling state interest, Hawaii is on the way to being
the first state to legally recognize same-sex marriages. With this
will come the entitlement of over 100 civil rights and privileges
previously denied to lesbian & gay couples; health care benefits,
survivorship laws, and tax deductions to name a few.
If same-sex marriage is legalized in Hawaii, the burden will
then be on other states to to justify not recognizing marriages
performed in Hawaii. A victory in Hawaii will bring other states
one step closer to full recognition of equal rights.
Community members and community-supportive people interested
in joining the forefront of the marriage rights pursuit should
contact the Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project (HERMP), c/o the
Gay & Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) of Hawaii, 1820 University
Ave. #8, Honolulu, HI 96822, tel: (808) 951-7000. HERMP is an all-
volunteer, grassroots, tax-deductible, 501(c)(3) group, striving to
promote loving relationships.
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